AMRITSARJatha to Pakistan
in September-end: A jatha of nearly 3,000 Sikhs will leave for Pakistan in the last week of September to participate in the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Nankana Sahib and other gurdwaras of Pakistan on November 2. Aspirants will have to deposit their passports with the SGPC authorities by September 18. The exact date for the departure will be fixed as per the travel schedule, which will be sent by the Pakistani authorities. Ram Singh, person in charge, Publicity Wing, SGPC, said after the scrutiny of passports, the SGPC would ask members to submit application forms. An SGPC official said at least six months’ validity of the passport of an applicant was must if he/she wanted to be a part of the jatha. It would stay in Pakistan for 10 days.

BATHINDAPrincipal passes away:
Bhagirathi, principal of Kendriya Vidyalya No. 5, Bathinda, died on Thursday following a heart attack. His bhog would be organised on Wednesday. Bhagirathi is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. He had put in 35 years of service as a teacher.

Workers stage rally: The Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant
(GHTP) Mazdoor Union, Lehra Mohabat, staged a protest rally at the main gate of the thermal plant on Tuesday. Members of the Contractor Workers Union also took part in the protest rally. The rally was against privatisation of Punjab State Electricity Board.

MOGAAISSF’s foundation day: The All-India Sikh Students’ Federation (AISSF) will celebrate its 65th foundation day on September 13 in New Delhi. Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, president, AISSF, said nearly 1,000 delegates from all over the country were expected to participate. He said the AISSF had changed the venue of its annual function from Zira in Ferozepur district to New Delhi on the demand of delegates. Former Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, MP Tarlochan Singh, senior journalist Kuldip Nayar were likely to attend the function, he added.

SANGRURCleanliness drive: A week-long cleanliness drive for 21 wards of the town was launched at the district administrative complex on Tuesday. Municipal councillors, sanitation workers of the council, members of NGOs and schoolchildren took part in the drive. Additional Deputy Commissioner Arshdeep Singh Thind, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Surjit Singh and others launched the drive by using brooms in the complex. The Indian Oil Corporation also distributed T-shirts among 450 children. Meanwhile, an awareness rally was also held in which students from 15 schools participated.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPURRs 12 cr for sports: The Himachal government is spending Rs 12.62 crore on development of sports in the state during the current financial year. Moreover, in a scheme launched last year, under which 16 gram panchayats were selected in each district, Rs 1 lakh was being provided to each panchayat for the development of a playground and additional Rs 10,000 for its upkeep and Rs 12,000 for purchase of equipment. This was stated by Naina Devi MLA and BJP state spokesman Randhir Sharma while presiding over the concluding function of the three-day Education block-level High Schools Annual Sports Tournament at Kothipura near here on Monday.

NURPURTwo arrested: The Jawali police on Tuesday arrested Shiv Dutt (husband) and Soma Devi (mother-in-law) of deceased Preveen Kumari, who reportedly committed suicide on Monday at her in-laws’ house in Dorana village. According to the Jawali DSP, the police has registered a case following the complaint of Sheela Devi of Sajwan village. The police, after conducting the post-mortem, handed over the body to the family of the deceased.

JAMMU
& KASHMIR

JAMMU3 hurt in mishap: Three pedestrians were injured after a car hit them in a busy market at Nai Basti here on Monday. Official sources said a car hit three youths in the market around 8 pm. The injured have been admitted to the Government Hospital, Gandhi
Nagar, and the car has been impounded. A hunt has been launched nab the driver, who managed to escape.

Srinagar
Naresh takes oath as MLC: Deputy chairman, Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky administered oath of office and secrecy to Naresh Kumar Gupta, who was elected member of the Legislative Council on Monday. Among others, MLA, Doda, Abdula Majeed Wani, principal secretary, Law, AH Kochak and secretary, Legislative Council, Mehboob Iqbal were present on the occasion.